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Kosciusko County Commissioners do not have any say on whether or not the Economic Development Income Tax is passed.
However, if EDIT is passed in March by the county council, the commissioners would be the people to direct where the collected funds would go.
"We don't have any say, but if they put it into place, that would be one place we could go for funding," said Commissioner Avis Gunter Tuesday.
"If the council approves it, we will use it for funding of the jail," she said. "To me, it makes sense. We can drop the jail cumulative fund from the tax rate."
EDIT is based solely on income. Towns receive funds from EDIT based on population or assessed valuation. If the county council approves EDIT at their March 4 meeting, they also will determine whether EDIT distribution will be based on population or assessed valuation.
The city of Warsaw approved a resolution calling for the county council to establish EDIT at a rate of 0.4 percent beginning in 2000. Mentone town council did not discuss EDIT at their meeting. Other towns in the county have not yet voted on it.
Commissioner Eddie Creighton said EDIT has the potential to be beneficial for many county residents.
"EDIT has the potential of giving property tax relief," he said.
Commissioner Brad Jackson said, "With the information I currently have on (EDIT), the only way I'd be in favor of it is if I knew there was also going to be a property tax relief."
Jackson said, "I'd make the part clear about the property tax. I think we pay enough."
Gunter said, "A lot of older people were against it because they didn't want another tax, but they didn't realize that their fixed income doesn't come under EDIT."
Milford town council will discuss EDIT Monday, Syracuse town council will discuss EDIT Feb. 16 and Winona Lake's town council will discuss it at their meeting Tuesday.
The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce voted Thursday to recommend to the Syracuse town council to approve EDIT.
